N.C. State Dominates Tar Heels To End Bill Belichick's First Season At UNC
RALEIGH, N.C. — Bill Belichick’s first year at North Carolina wrapped up with a third consecutive loss, with all three defeats coming against in-state rivals. The Tar Heels dropped their final game of the season to N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, losing in a 42-19 thrashing to the Wolfpack.
North Carolina finishes the season with a 4-8 record, the team’s worst since going 2-9 in 2018. UNC has now lost five consecutive games to the Wolfpack dating back to the 2021 season.
N.C. State got the jump on North Carolina early, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives of the game and taking an early 14-0 lead. The Tar Heels offered little resistance, allowing the Wolfpack to go 75 yards and 76 yards in those first two possessions.
UNC got on the board with a touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp from Gio Lopez, but N.C. State followed that up with two additional offensive touchdowns before halftime. In that span, North Carolina only managed a field goal in response for a 28-10 halftime score.
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The four touchdowns the Wolfpack scored in the first half marked the second time a team scored at least four touchdowns in the first half against the Tar Heels, with the loss to Clemson in October being the first.
Gio Lopez exited the game with a left ankle injury at the 10:18 mark of the third quarter, finishing his day with 11-for-16 passing for 118 yards and a touchdown. Max Johnson filled in, recording 54 yards on 8-for-15 passing and a lost fumble in his time behind center. Au’Tori Newkirk played UNC’s final series, completing 3-of-5 passes for 23 yards and a touchdown to Jordan Owens.
NCSU freshman quarterback Will Wilson ran for four touchdowns on North Carolina’s defense.
The offseason is officially underway for UNC, as the team will miss out on a postseason bowl game. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2 and will close on Jan. 16, but players will begin making decisions starting this Sunday. Potential coaching changes will also be a major question mark in the days ahead.